Fine Dining Tabletop Exhibit Showcases Top Interior Designers

DIFFA sponsored their annual fundraising event, Dining by Design, at the recent Architectural Digest Home Design Show. DIFFA is Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Each year they invite famous and local designers to create dining installations that range from gorgeous to wildly provocative.

Here are some photos of this year’s installations. Interior designer, Vincente Wolfe, created this flower bower of pink, white and blue hydrangea, perfect for a spring outdoor party. Donald and Katherine Lanziero took their turn on their version of a spring fete - using citrus greens and yellows as their color scheme.  The décor looks all bright and cheerful until you look closer at the table setting. Lanziero proceeded to add a macabre edge, including skulls and antlers as part of their centerpieces.

 With every spring, come April showers. Evette Rios for Hayneedle literally showered her dining installation with gentle raindrops. At the center hangs a clear umbrella with large crystal raindrops, accentuating the watery theme. Echo Design created an Indian theme with tribal patterned canopy and runner. Providing a focal point is an abstracted print of Bengal tigers gazing out peacefully. 

Designer Jeffrey Brooks takes wing with his table design. Hovering over the dining table are white-feathered wings as if to gather the guests and fly them out. His centerpiece includes glass-covered arrangements of calla lilies and a tower of radicchio.   

Lastly, David Beahm nods to the upcoming British royal wedding with a Prince William and Kate Middleton-inspired dining installation. A canopy of rose and orange fringed silk and climbing roses creates a romantic backdrop for the formal table setting. A portrait of the royal couple graces mint green porcelain and tongue-in-cheek boxed condoms that carry the advice, “Lie back and think of England.” 

Here's a great video tour of the event - and thanks to the Sheffield School in Manhattan for the great write-up and photos above!